1
as in to celebrate
to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony
keep the Sabbath by not working
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to retain
to continue to have in one's possession or power
the money is yours to keep keep my secret and don't tell it to anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to fulfill
to do what is required by the terms of
make sure you keep your promise to help out at the homeless shelter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in to maintain
to pay the living expenses of
agreed to keep both of their children in off-campus housing until they graduated and found jobs
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in to manage
to look after and make decisions about
enlisted a relative to keep the store while she was away
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in to control
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
try to keep your composure no matter what happens
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in to protect
to drive danger or attack away from
may God bless and keep you
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in preserving
the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition
the keep of the stable is mainly left to the two equine-loving daughters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of keep
Angela Haupt, Time, 21 July 2025
De Rivaz ended up keeping the tape, and never forgot about it in the ensuing decades.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2025
Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025
The accolades in women’s golf keep coming for Orange Lutheran High junior Jude Lee.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for keep
Verb
Advertisement Brocks focuses much of his attention these days on scleral lenses, which are large-diameter contact lenses that rest on the whites of the eyes, keeping the cornea hydrated and protecting it from irritation.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 21 July 2025
De Rivaz ended up keeping the tape, and never forgot about it in the ensuing decades.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2025
Noun
The dormant Holiday movie theater on Main Street was on the keep list.
—Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025
The accolades in women’s golf keep coming for Orange Lutheran High junior Jude Lee.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for keep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keep
Verb
-
Traverse City Food & Wine, which will celebrate the region's 50-plus wineries and the peak of Michigan's agriculture season, will take place Aug. 20-24 with a farm-to-table theme.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
25 July 2025
-
Bridgestone Retail Operations donated the van and $100,000 to celebrate Bridgestone's 10-year anniversary with Boys & Girls Clubs.—
The Tennessean,
The Tennessean,
25 July 2025
Verb
-
Mulching can help the plant’s shallow roots retain moisture.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
22 July 2025
-
However, Congress can still review all legislation passed by the D.C. Council and retains authority over the district's budget.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
Rather than making customers break down needs into searchable keywords, the AI will understand high-level goals and orchestrate the necessary actions to fulfill them.—
Kiri Masters,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
-
With Starliner delays, SpaceX has now landed 14 operational mission contracts and about to fly its 11th, while Boeing has yet to fulfill its first.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 July 2025
Verb
-
Artifacts and materials that were recovered during previous excavations of the area and stored in the Capitoline museum warehouses above have been brought down to the tunnels to be studied in their original context, D’Ambrosia says.—
Antonia Mortensen,
CNN Money,
23 July 2025
-
Plus, the armrests are extra wide and can be used to hold drinks, and the chairs are weather-resistant, foldable, and easy to store.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
23 July 2025
Verb
-
Two-way traffic will be maintained during construction.—
Sofia Joseph,
jsonline.com,
22 July 2025
-
Liebling pleaded guilty to charges of abuse and neglect, and while maintaining his innocence on the assault charge, was later sentenced 18 months in detention and three years probation.—
Tyler Jenke,
Billboard,
21 July 2025
Verb
-
The same cut also manages to lead all of the following half-dozen genre-specific lists: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs, R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales, Hot Rap Songs, Rap Streaming Songs, and the Rap Digital Song Sales rankings.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
While Bravo's Real Housewives franchise has never managed to break into this category, Hulu's Housewives-esque docusoap — which follows a group of very messy Mormon wives and mothers — earned a nomination after only being on for two seasons.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
The home country of this dark and enduring masterpiece from 1985 is the eerily-retrograde Republic of Gilead, in which women who once held jobs and led independent lives are now strictly controlled and monitored, valued only for their ovaries and their obedience.—
Dan Fesperman
July 22,
Literary Hub,
22 July 2025
-
In the nuclear era, for example, the U.S. government controlled the new technology, and planners had two decades to develop policy frameworks before a nuclear rival emerged.—
MATAN CHOREV,
Foreign Affairs,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
Insurance can help protect you from unexpected legal or financial difficulties.—
Anne-Lyse Ngatta,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
The East Asian power provided air defense systems to the Balkan nation to help protect its airspace, raising concerns in the United States about Serbia's path toward European integration.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Keep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keep. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share